Can-filling machine



' A. HOLMQUIST, SR

01m FILLING mcmm Filed Oct. 2. 191a s Sheets-Sheet 1 I fzq'ai r @st. 2%1924. I i,5i2,?%

A. HQLMQUIST, SR

- CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 191a 5-Sheets-$heet2 1; guuiiA.HOLMQU$T.SR cm ILLING'MAQHINE Filed Oct. 1918 5 Sheets-Sheet a m, W Jw 4 III I inn m. 251 1924. mm 'HOLMQUIST, 5R

.CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed 06 2 1 918 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented ea. 21,1924.

siren STATES mam Parent @FFECE.

AUGUST HOLMQ'UIST, SR., 0F HOOPES'ION, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO SPBAGUECAN- INING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OFILLI- NOIS.

- CAN-FILLING ltLAI}HI'NIE.

Application flied October 2, 1918. Serial No. 256,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST HOLMQUIST, Sn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hoopeston, in the county of Vermilion and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-FillingMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, refer- .ence being had to the accompanying drawing, forminga part of this spedfication.

This invention relates to improvements in can-filling machines, andparticularly to improvements in such machines as are used in packingpeas, beans, berries and the l'ke, with which it is customary to includeas a part of the contents of the can a quantity of'liquid material.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a can-filling machinewh ch is of simple and economical construction and which is not likelyto get out of order. Another object is to provide a machine which iseasily cleaned and kept in sanitary condition, and which, while in use,will not become clogged with the materials which are being filled intothe cans. Another object is to provide means whereby, in the eventthatone of the can-pockets of the can-conveyor is without a can toreceive the liquid the latter will not be discharged from the liquidmeasuring device and thus spilled. Other objects and advantages willappear from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated a machineembodying my invention Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the machine; I

Fig. 2 is an axial, vertical sectional view of the machine, the sectionbeing takenon the line 22 of Fig.- 1, looking in the direction indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, the section being taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking downward;

- Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, the section being takenon the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking downward; I

Fig. 5 is a broken elevational view of the means for adjusting thecapacity of the brine-cups;

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view of one of the brine-cups and a portionof the corresponding receiver, illustrating the valve mechanism which isemployed for controlling the filling and emptying of the brinecups, thesection being taken on the line 66 of Fig. 7

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the parts shown in Fi 6,the sectionbeing taken on the line 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the upper portion of the machine, showing themeans for adjusting the capacity of the brine-cups.

F' gs. 9 and 10 are detail views of a bracket and lever carried thereby,this lever forming a part of the mechanism for controlling the values ofthe brine-cups.

In the several figures of the drawings, in which like reference numeralsindicate the same parts throughout, 10 is a standard or base whichsupports the machine. A central vertical shaft or column 11 is supportedin the base 10 and extends upwardly from the center thereof, therevolving elements of the machine being arranged to turn about thiscolumn. Suitable means are provided for raising and lowering the columnor shaft 11, this means comprising a gear wheel 12, the teeth of whichmesh with gear-rack teeth onthe column. The gear 12 is fast on a shaft13, which is supported n bearing provided in the base 10, and carries onits opposite end a worm-wheel 14.. The wormwheel 14 is revolved by aworm 15, the latter being carried on the inner end of a shaft 16, on theouter end of which is a bevel-gear 17 The shaft 16 is supported inbearings 18 and 19, which may be cast ntegral with the base, or, in thecase of the bearing 18, carried by a bearing-bracket which may be formedintegral with the base if desired.

Meshing with the bevel-gear 17 is a bevelgear 20, which is journaled ina suitable bearing on the bracket 18 and has a spline connection with avertical shaft 21, the latter carrying on its upper end a hand-wheel 22,by which it may be turned. The shaft 21 is supported at its upper end ina suitable bearing 23 on a bracket 23, and is connected to the gear 20in this way in order to allow the shaft to. move up and down in the hubof the gear 20 when the supporting bracket 23 is adjusted vertically tovary the height of the hopper 24:. This hopper is supported 25, whichrides in a suitable socket 26 in the bracket 18, the post being held inadjusted position by means of a set-screw 27.

The can-carrying table 28 revolves about the shaft 11 and has a gear 29secured on its hub'28, this gear being driven by a pinion conveyingtable 28 is a can-sweep 33 having a series of pocketsfor receiving thecans. The cans come to the sweep through a canfeeding chute '34, whichmay be, of any suitable type and forms no part of the present invention;the chute being arranged,

however, to, deliver the cans in a vertical position, one at a time, tothe pockets of the sweep, as they pass in succession the end of thecan-chute. I

After the cans are filled they are sweptofi the revolving can-table ontoa revolving can-discharged disk 35, by means which are well known inthis art and will not be described herein. Suitable means (not shown)are employed for revolving the disk. 35. In the use of the machinesuitable mechanism, such as a-belt-carrier, will take the cans from thecan-discharging disk and conduct them to a part ofthe establishmentwhere further operations are to be performed on the cans. v

.Arranged above the revolving camcarrying table and turning therewith,is the peameasuring element; of the machine. This element comprises aseries of receivers each consisting of a pair of telescoping members 36and 37 The lower members 37 are carried by aplate .38 which forms thelower deck of the pea-measuring element, this plate being supported fromthe can-carryingtable 28 and provided with suitable means by which itselevation may be adjusted to accommodatecans of different heights. Thisadjusting means. comprises a pair of screws 39 and 40 which are securedat'their upper endsto the under side of the plate 38 and have threadedengagement with a pair of internally-threaded spindles 41 and 42.

'These spindles 41 and 42iextend upwardly .from the can-carrying tableand are arranged torevolve inv suitable bearings there- 1 n.s On theunderside of the can-carrying tablev'thereis provided a pair ofworm-gears V 43'and 44, these worm-gears being fast on thellower endwofthe spindles 41 and '42.

To revolve these members simultaneously so as" to'-.ra1se or lower theplate 38, therejis provided a sh'aftr45, which carries a pair ofworrns=46 "and-47 for engagement with the worm-gears43 an'd 44. Thisshaft 45 has an-end 48 which is squared torcceive a wrench and pro ectsbeyond the edge of the duct the materia'lfrom the receivers into thecans.

The upper deck of the pearmeasuring elements comprises a plate 50,which-is supported upon the upper end of the shaft 11 and revolves aboutthe latter but is notedjustable lengthwise-"thereof, as is the case withthe plate 38. To raise and lower the upper deck of the pea-measuring"element, the shaft 11 is adjusted .up or down by means of the hand-wheel22, and the gearing which extends from this wheel to'the shaft 11, asalready explained' The upper telescoping members ,36 of thepea-measuring receivers are carried by and project from the under sideof the plate 50. On the upper side of this plate there is arranged abrine tank 51. A series of brinemeasuring cups, pockets, or chambers 52are arranged in the tank 51, and are provided with inlet ports 53communicating with the tank. In the lower part of each 1 of thebrinemeasuring cups 52 there is located an oscillating. valve member ,54provided with ports 55. The valve-ports 55 may be brought into registerwith theports 53 so as to admit brine to the cups by turning the valvesto the proper position. Each of the valves 54 is provided with a centralstem 56 which extends downwardly through an opening in'the bottomiwa'llof the brinemeasuring cup 52, and through an opening in the plate 50,and is provided with suitable means by which it may be oscillated tocarry the ports of the valve into orout of registration with the portsin the sides of the brine-cups. r I

From the lower end of each of the brinecups extends a neck57, throughwhich ex-' nication is cut off'between th'efbrine-meas-f uring cup andthe receiver'36l v The locations and sizes of the various ports is suchthat-f-communication between the brine-tank and the brine-cup willalways be closed before communication is established betweenthe-brinej-cup and the r g ceiver. There is, thus, ne'verany time whenthere is direct communication-from the'tank to the receiver. t

On each of the valve-stems 56 there is arranged a lever 61,-by' means ofwhich the and close the ports.

stem and valve may be oscillated to open On the base is secured abracket 62 which forms a support for a can-actuated lever 63, whichcarries on its lower end a can-engaging finger 6 As the cans, pass thisfinger in succession they push the latter aside and cause the lever 63to oscillate on its pivot 63". On the upper end 'of this lever 63 isprovided an adjustable dog 65, which, when thrown in toward the centerof the machine will engage the outer ends of the levers 61 as they passin succession. After the can passes the finger 64 the lever 63 ispermitted to return to normal position, being moved to this position bya spring 66, which is carried in a spring barrel 67 on the supportingbracket 62 and is backed byan adjusting screw 68, by means of which itstension may be adjusted,

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that if the plate 38 and the partscarried thereby are revolving in a counterclockwise direction, each ofthe levers 61 as it is brought into engagement wit the dog 65 will beswung back and 11 oscillate the valvestem 56 to which it is secured,thus opening the lower or outlet ports of the valve and permitting thebrine to flow from the corresponding brine-measuring cup 52 into thereceiver and thence into the can below. Each of the brine-cups, afterdischarging its contents, must have its outlet ports closed and itsinlet ports open before this cup is called upon to again deliver ameasured quantity of brine to a can. "This shifting of the valves isaccomplished by a cam 69, which is fast on the shaft 11. This camiscircular for the greater part of the distance around it, but has a liftwith which the inner end of each. of the levers 61 engages as theturning of the parts brings the end of each lever into position for suchengagement. The lever 61 and valve 54 is thus moved back to the positionin which the valve will cut 05 the flow of liquid from thebrinemeasuring cup 52 to the receiver 36, and will establishcommunication bet-ween the tank and brine-measuring cup. 4

As the can-carryingelement and the premeasuring element revolve togetheraround the central shaft 11, the cans carried by the table engage, oneafter another, the finger 64 and oscillate the lever 63 on its pivot 63,thrusting the latter back against the resistance of the spring 66. Thiscarries the dog 65 into engagement with the outer end of the lever 61and causes the valve 54 toshift, so that the ports in the bottom wallthereof are brought into register withthe outlet ports in the bottom ofthe brine-measuring cup. This arrangement insures that in case no can ispresent the brine will not be allowed to discharge into the receiver andthus be spilled.

As the plate 38 and the levers carried thereby move in a'circular patharound the axis of the machine, the inner end of each lever is broughtinto engagement with the projection 70 on the cam 69 and restored to theposition in which communication is etfected between the brine-tank andthe brinemeasuring cup corresponding to that particular lever andat thesame time communication between the brine-measuring cup and the receiveris cut off.

Means are provided for preventing crushing of the peas as they movedownward from the hopper into the receivers as the latter passsuccessively under the hopper. Means are also provided for preventingthe peas from falling directly from the hopper through thereeeivers intothe cans. Supported on the bracket 18 is a cut off plate 71. this platepassing between the lower edge of the pea-measuring receiver and theupper edge of the funnel 49 as the receivers are successively broughtover the plate 71, which forms a temporary bottom for the receivers. Asthe cans and receivers pass on the peas are swept ofi this plate intothe cans. This plate 71 is not secured directly to the bracket 18, butis provided with an adjustable support 7 2 to which it is secured andwhich may be raised or lowered with respect to the stem 25 to suit thevertical position to which the lower deck of the pea-receiving elementis adjusted. Any suitable means may be provided for holding thisadjustable support in adjusted position, such as a screw 72*. The cam69, for the same reason, is arranged so that it may be verticallyadjusted along the shaft 11. f

To guard against the crushing of the peas as the receiver passes outfrom under the mouth of the hopper. this mouth is extended around in thedirection of travel of the receiver, as plainly seen in Fig. 3. Thiselongated mouth or outlet, indicated at 73, insures that a thin layer ofpeas will be left on the upper side of the plate 50. which layer of peasis dropped into the receiver after the latter has passed out from-underthe mouth of the hopper 24 and just after it has passed the plate 71.Means are provided for governing the amount of brinewhich each cap willreceive. Extending through the upper wall 74 of each brinecup is a tube75, open at its lower end and having a restricted passage therethrough.These tubes provide vents for the air which must escape as the brineflows into the cups. The height to which the brine will rise in the cupsdepends upon the height of the lower end of the tube, as the liquidcannot enter that part of the cup which is in the tank. This amount issmall and may be disregarded or, if desired, the passage of liquid intothe tube may be prevented by the provision .of a float-valve 76 in eachof the tubes 75. Means are provided whereby the tubes 7 5 may all beraised or lowered at the same time, so as to adjust the capacity of allof the brine-cups simultaneously. A spider or frame 77 is secured to theupper ends of some or all of the brine-cups 52 and has a central socket7 8 into which fits the lower end of an adjusting screw 79. Thisadjusting screw carries at its upper end a hand-wheel 80, by which itmay be turned to raise or lower another spider 81, to the arms 82 ofwhich are secured the upper ends of all of of the tubes 7 5.

During the operation of this machine, each can will receive its chargeof peas or other granular material from the receivers and willthereafter receive its charge of brine, after which the can is moved offthe table onto the revolving can-carrying disk 35. Assuming that aquantity of the peas be placed in the hopper 24 and that the machine bestarted, the receivers, as they pass in succession under the hopper andin register with the mouth thereof, will be filled with peas. At thistime the lower end of the receiver is closed by the plate 71. butshortly thereafter the receiver passes off the plate and discharges itscontents into the can. As the cans move on, they engage in successionthe can-engaging finger 64 and thereby throw the dog 65 inward into thepath of the levers 61. This, as hereinabove explained, causes thedischarge-port of the valve of the correspond ing brine-measuring cup tobe opened and permits the brine to pass through the receiver into thecan below.

While I have shown a machine embodying my invention, 1 do not wish to belimited to the exact disclosure made herein, as I am aware thatvariations and changes may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In this specification I have employed the terms peas and brine for thematerials which are placed in the cans, but I wish it to be understoodthat these terms are used as a matter of convenience only, and that themachine is well adapted to be used in the filling of cans with othermixtures-in which granular material is combined with a liquid. Claimsgeneric to this application are placed in mvcopending application SerialNumber 241,921, filed June 26, 1918, can-filling machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for filling cans, the combination of a rotatably-mountedcan-conveyor; a pea-measuring element comprising receivers arranged torevolve with said canconveyor; means for filling the receivers whilethey are moving; and a brine-measurconducting the brine from thechambers to v the receivers arranged to turn with said canconveyingelement and to discharge into the cans through the. receivers while theparts are moving.

2. In a machine for filling cans, the combination of a rotarycan-carrier; a rotary element comprising a series of measuringreceivers; a rotary element comprising a series of individualbrine-measuring cups; means for filling said receivers while the latterare moving; each cup being provided with a passage permanent withrespect to said cup and the corresponding receiver for conducting thebrine from said cup to said receiver; means for establishing andinterrupting communication between said brine-measuring cups and saidreceivers while the parts are moving; and means for adjusting thecapacity of each brine-measuring cup while the parts are moving.

3. In a machine for filling cans, the combination of a rotarycan-conveying element; a rotary measuring element comprising a sev riesof receivers; a rotary measuring element comprising a series ofliquid-cups; a duct for conducting the brine from each of said cups toone of said receivers said duct being permanent with respect to said cupand receiver; a valve controlling said duct and means for opening andclosing said valve while the parts are moving.

4. In a machine for filling cans, the combination of a rotarycan-conveyor; a rotary measuring element comprising a series ofreceivers; a brining element comprising a rotary tank and a series ofrotary brine-measuring cups, each of said cups having a passage forconducting brine therefrom to one of said receivers; said passage beingpermanent with respect to said cup and receiver; an oscillating valvefor each of said cups arranged to establish or interrupt communicationbetween the cup and the tank, and canoperaterl means for establishingcommunication between one of said cups and a can through thecorresponding receiver.

5. A machine comprising a series of measuring pockets for granularmaterial revoluble about a common axis, and a series of liquid measuringpockets also revoluble about a common axis, a series of channels forconducting liquid from said'liquid-measuring pockets to said granularmaterial measuring pockets, said channels being permanent'with respectto both series of pockets and valve means for controlling said channels.

'6. A machine comprising a series of pockets for measuring granularmaterial, movable in a horizontal plane, a series of pockets channelsfor conducting liquid from said liquid-measuring pockets to saidgranular material measuring pockets, said channels being permanent withrespect to both series of pockets and cam-controlled valve means forcontrolling said channels.

8. A pea filler comprising a circular series of telescoping pockets formeasuring peas rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, a circularseries of pockets for measuring brine rotatable about the same axis assaid pea measuring pockets, means whereby the capacity of one of saidseries of measuring pockets may be adjusted collectively, a dischargeoutlet under each pea measuring pocket, each of said brine measuringpockets being in communication with one of said discharge outlets, acommon brine reservoir for all of said brine measuring pockets, a valvefor each brine measuring pocket, oscillatable about an upwardlyextending axis, said valve being provided with means for controlling theflow from the reservoir to the brine measuring chamber, and from thebrine measuring chamber to the 1 dis charge outlet, a vertical shaft onwhich said valve is mounted, an arm secured to said vertical "shaft, afixed cam against which said arm moves to open the brine pocket to thereservoir and close it to the discharge outlet, and a can-controlledstop for controlling the movement of said arm to close the brine pocketto the reservoir and open it to the discharge outlet.

9. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pockets for measuringpeas, rotatable about an upwardl extending axis, a circular series ofpoo ets for measuring brine, rotatable about the same axis as said peameasuring pockets, means whereby the capacity of said brine measuringpockets may be adjusted collectively, a discharge outlet under each peameasuring pocket, each of said brine measuringpockets being incommunication with one of said discharge outlets, a common brinereservoir for all of I said brine measuring pockets, a valve for eachbrine measuring pocket, oscillatable about an upwardly extending axis,said valve being provided with means for controlling'the flow from thereservoir to the brine measuring chamber and from the brine measuringchamber to the discharge outlet, a vertical shaft on which said valve ismounted, an arm secured to said vertical shaft, a fixed cam againstwhich said arm moves, to open the brine pocket to the reservoir andclose it to the discharge outlet, and a can-controlled stop forcontrolling the movement of said arm to close the brine pocket to thereservoir and Open it to the discharge outlet.

10. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pockets for measuringpeas, rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, a rotatable circularseries of pockets for measuringbrine, means whereby the capacity of thebrine measuring pockets may be adjusted collectively, a discharge outletunder each pea measuring pocket, each of said brine measuring pocketsbeing in communication with one of said discharge outlets, a commonbrine reservoir for all of said brine measuring pockets, a valve foreach brine measuring pocket, oscillatable about an upwardly extendingaxis, said valve being provided with means for controlling the flow fromthe reservoir to the f brine measuring chamber and from the brinemeasuring chamber to the discharge outlet, a vertical shaft on whichsaid valve is mounted, an arm secured to said vertical shaft, a fixedcam against which said arm moves, to open the brine pocket to thereservoir and close it to the discharge outlet, and a can-controlledstop for controlling the movement of said armto close the brine pocketto the reservoir and open it to the each pea measuring pocket, each ofsaid brine measuring pockets being in communication with one of saiddischarge outlets, a common brine reservoir for all of said brinemeasuring pockets, a valve for each brine measuring pocket, oscillatableabout an upwardly extending axis, said valve being provided with meansfor controlling the flow from the reservoir to the brine measuringchamber and from the brine measuring chamber to the discharge outlet, avertical shaft on which said valve is mounted, an arm secured to saidvertical shaft, a fixed cam against which said arm moves, to open thebrine pocket to the reservoir and close it to the discharge outlet, anda can-controlled stop for controlling the movement of said arm to closethe brine pocket to the reservoir and open it to the discharge outlet.

12. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pockets for measuringpeas, rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, a rotatable circularseries c of pockets for measuring brine, a discharge outlet under eachpea measuring pocket, each of said brine measuring pockets being incommunication with one of said discharge outlets, a valve for each brinemeasuring pocket oscillatable about an upwardly extending axis, saidvalve being provided with means for controlling the flow from thereservoir to the brine measuring chamber and from the brine measuringchamber to the discharge outlet, a vertical shaft on which said valve ismounted, an arm secured to said vertical shaft, a fixed cam againstwhich said arm moves, to open the brine pocket to the reservoir andclose it to the discharge outlet, and a can-controlled stop forcontrolling the movement of said arm to close the brine pocket to thereservoir and open it to the discharge outlet. 1

' 13. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pockets for measuringpeas, rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, a rotatable circularseries of pockets for measuring brine, a discharge outlet under each peameasuring pocket, each of said brine measuring pockets being incommunication with one of said discharge outlets by passages permanentwith respect to said pockets and outlets, a valve for each brinemeasuring pocket, oscillatable about an upwardly extending .axis, saidvalve being provided with means for controlling the flow from thereservoir to the brine measuring chamber, and from the brine measuringchamber to the discharge outlet.

14. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pea receivers,rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, a circular series of brinereceivers, one for each pea receiver, rotatable about the same axis assaid pea receivers, each pair of pea and brine receivers having anoutlet, means for moving a series of cans in a circular path underneathsaid outlet, each brine receiver being provided with a passageconnecting it with one of the pea receivers, said passage beingpermanent with respect to said brine receiver and pea receiver and avalve for controlling the flow through said passage.

15. A machine for filling cans comprising means formoving the canshorizontally about a vertical axis, horizontally moving receiversarranged to measure granular material for the cans as they move aboutsaid axis, a stationary holder for supplying material to said receiversas they move, horizontally moving receivers arranged to dischargeanother material into the cans as they move about said axis, means forsupplying cans in position to receive said material, each of said secondset of receivers being provided with a passage connecting it with one ofthe receivers of the first set said passage being permanent with respectto the receivers of both sets.

16. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pea receivers,rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, a circular series of brinereceivers, one for each pea receiver, rotatable about the same axis assaid pea receivers, each pair of pea and brine receivers having a commonoutlet, means for moving a series of cans in a circular path under--neath said outlets, each brine receiver being provided with a passageconnecting it with one of the pea receivers said passages beingpermanent with respect to the pea receivers and the brine receivers.

17 In a machine for filling cans, the combination of a circular seriesof movable pockets for receiving brine, a circular series of movablepockets for receiving peas, a duct for conducting brine from each ofsaid liquid pockets to one of said pea receiving pockets, said ductbeing permanent with respect to both said series of pockets, a valvecontrolling said duct, and means for opening and closing said valvewhile the parts are moving.

18. A pea filler comprising a circular series of pockets for measuringpeas, rotatable about an upwardly extending axis, means for moving aseries of cans along with and underneath said pea measuring pockets,each of said pea measuring pockets being provided with a dischargeoutlet for delivering the peas into the cans, a series of brinepassages, one for each pea measuring,

pocket, located laterally with respect to said pockets and fixed withrespect thereto, and a series of brine measuring pockets for deliveringbrine to said laterally located passages.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

AUGUST HoLMou s'r, sR.

